Products

Low-Maintenance Railing

Composite rail system offers integral mildew
protection

The CorrectDeck RapidRail CX railing system includes an
antimicrobial to reduce the chance of mildew growth in
high-humidity conditions. With a low-luster finish that complements
the company's line of composite decking, RapidRail CX is PVC-free
and reportedly offers the heft, weight, and feel of lumber —
not plastic — without the maintenance of wood. The
antimicrobial protection is incorporated into each rail, baluster,
and post using a coextrusion process, so the protection will not
wash off or wear away, according to the manufacturer. Because the
material's wood fibers are coated with plastic, the product deters
grease and food stains, and the addition of concentrated UV
inhibitors enables the railing to resist color fading as well. For
more information, contact Correct Building Products, 877-332-5877;
www.correctdeck.com

Speedy Anchor

Simpson Strong-Tie has introduced the Titen HD, a heavy-duty screw
anchor for high-strength applications in concrete and masonry.
Available in 3/8- to 3/4-inch diameters, the Titen HD is installed
in a predrilled hole using a conventionally sized masonry bit. The
threads on the Titen HD hold the key to its performance: Hardened
cutting teeth at the tip of the anchor undercut the concrete as the
anchor is driven, allowing the rest of the threads to follow with
very little friction. The result is a continuous mechanical
interlock between the anchor and base material that requires
minimal installation torque and does little damage to the base
material. For more information, contact Simpson Strong-Tie,
800-999-5099; www.simpsonanchors.com

Durable Decks

Waterproof floor vinyl rolls out like
roofing

Duradek, a waterproof vinyl that comes in rolls like membrane
roofing, is designed to serve as a nonskid wear surface and
waterproof sealer for exterior house decks. The material can be
glued to virtually any clean, dry substrate, and it comes in a
variety of textures to accommodate a range of home styles.
According to the manufacturer, the fire-retardant material resists
mildew, salt spray, UV radiation, and freeze/thaw cycles. All
installers are required to be factory trained and certified, and
the work requires some specialty tools, like heat guns, that few
carpenters carry in their toolboxes. The installation techniques,
however, are reasonably easy to master and are similar to those
needed to install vinyl flooring or single-ply roof membranes. The
payoff is a more durable deck covering than fiberglass or epoxy
trowel membranes. For more information, contact Duradek Ltd.,
800-338-3568; www.duradek.com

Shelter from the Storm

Composite storm-room panels offer ultimate
amenity

More than a Jacuzzi or home theater, the storm room — a
reinforced safe room built into a house that provides protection
from extreme winds — has become the ultimate amenity for
coastal homes. (FEMA provides plans for such a shelter at www.fema.gov/pdf/fima/fema320.pdf.) Norplex-Micarta
has recently improved the concept with the introduction of its
StormBlocker system, which includes reinforced framing and
high-strength panels made of a fiberglass-based thermoset composite
material that can reportedly survive exposure to F5 tornadoes and
Category 5 hurricanes without penetration or damage. Unlike
shelters that rely on concrete and steel, the walls of the
composite-based system are relatively thin and easy to cut using
common construction tools, so they can be adapted to any floor
plan. For more information, contact Norplex-Micarta, 800-848-4431;
www.norplex-micarta.com

Faster Fastening

Hidden fastener for grooved
decking

The Tiger Claw TC-G hidden deck fastener is designed for use with
pregrooved composites and hardwood decking materials. Made from
.060-inch-thick 304-2B stainless steel, the TC-G has an annealed
black oxide coating like other Tiger Claw fasteners, so it
virtually disappears between deck boards. Unlike many deck
fasteners that are driven into the edge of deck boards to pin them
in place, the TC-G allows for 1/8-inch expansion or contraction of
decking to accommodate seasonal movement without compromising
wind-uplift resistance. For more information, contact Tiger Claw
Inc., 800-928-4437; www.deckfastener.com

Revolutionary Roof

Moisture-proofed OSB eliminates need for
felt

Huber Engineered Woods, the company that brought AdvanTech OSB to
the market, recently introduced a roof sheathing with a built-in
slip-resistant moisture barrier that doesn't require an additional
underlayment. The Zip System Roof is comprised of 1/2-inch-thick
paper-laminated OSB panels designed to be installed with
proprietary 33/4-inch-wide tape at all panel end and edge joints.
Together, panels and seam tape provide a code-recognized
replacement for roof sheathing and conventional felt underlayment.
This system allows framers to dry-in a roof as soon as the
sheathing is installed and provides the type of secondary water
barrier recommended for roofs in hurricane country. If the roofing
blows off in a tropical storm, the roof is still protected from
water penetration. For more information, contact Huber Engineered
Woods, 800-933-9220; www.huberwood.com

Synthetic Underlayment

Advanced polymers resist heat and
blow-offs

Palisade synthetic roofing underlayment offers a high-strength
roofing underlayment that is six times lighter with 30 times
greater tear strength than No. 30 asphalt felt, reports the
manufacturer. The result is fewer blow-offs during exposed roof
conditions. The lightweight material (10 squares per 40-pound roll)
offers an antiskid surface and reflective cool color to reduce heat
buildup during installation. Because the material is made with
advanced polymers that can withstand temperatures up to 300°F,
it can be used beneath copper and other metal roofing without a
rosin paper separator as required over asphalt felt. Palisade
underlayment offers enhanced protection from UV exposure (up to six
months without covering), a Class A fire rating, and a 25-year
warranty. For more information, contact SDP Advanced Polymer
Products, 866-747-4035; www.sdp-products.com

Maximum Opening

Elegant doors provide privacy and security
with unobstructed views

Loewen bifold doors virtually disappear, creating a seamless
transition between indoors and out. These exterior bifold doors are
available in configurations up to 16 panels, allowing for openings
up to 52 feet wide that fold to the outside to maximize interior
floor space. The Loewen bifolds come in metal clad and natural wood
exteriors in standard panel widths up to 39 inches and heights up
to 10 feet; custom sizes are also available. Bifold doors use
standard Loewen terrace door multipoint locking hardware and
matching handle finishes. The doors are top hung and include a
bronze anodized sill with an integral drainage system. For more
information, contact Loewen, 877-563-9368; www.loewen.com

Pristine Trim

High-quality, voidless PVC trim
stock

Cellular PVC has become the trim stock of choice in coastal
applications, where the material's resistance to moisture, rot, and
termites makes it an integral component of a durable exterior.
Fypon, a leading manufacturer of polyurethane trim, has now entered
the cellular PVC trim arena, offering a high-quality cellular PVC
stock without voids or imperfections. Like other cellular PVC
materials, the new Fypon material can be cut and shaped with
standard woodworking tools and can be placed directly on masonry or
on grade. Fypon's PVC trim product line includes PVC Column Wrap
— prejoined, two-piece surrounds in both tapered and
nontapered configurations with integral Craftsman-style cap and
base. Fluted, raised-panel, and recessed-panel configurations are
available. For more information, contact Fypon, 800-446-3040;
www.fypon.com

Competing Compressors

The next generation of portable
compressors

Both Hitachi and DeWalt have introduced new lightweight, compact
compressors for trim work. Weighing in at just 63.7 pounds, the
Hitachi EC119SA features a cast-iron,
oil-lubricated pump with oversized bearings and a 15-amp induction
motor, which runs significantly quieter and longer than comparable
universal motors. The four-gallon twin stack has been enclosed in a
roll cage with an integral control panel that protects the gauge,
regulator, and plumbing. Additional features include drain ball
valves, a cord wrap, a protected pressure switch, shock-absorbing
feet, manual overload protection, a two-handed handle, and two
factory-installed couplers.

The DeWalt D55141 is a much smaller two-gallon
unit, weighing in at 30 pounds, and it features an oilless pump
powered by a 10-amp universal motor. The DeWalt model, too, offers
an innovative roll cage design with a wraparound control panel that
safely protects the unit and controls, and DeWalt offers a similar
menu to the Hitachi of additional features, including a ball drain
valve, a convenient cord wrap, and dual quick couplers.